Pipe-perforator.



No- 808,285. PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905. E. R. GRAHAM.

PIPE PERFORATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1 1905.

EDT/VIN R. GRAHAM, OF OOALINGA, CALIFORNIA.

PIPE-PERFORATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed May 1, 1905. $erial No. 258,346.

To (old whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN R. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at O0- alin a, in the county of Fresno and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Perforators, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for perforating oil and Artesian wellcasings for the purpose of admitting the percolating liquids into thecasing to be removed therefrom subsequently by the pumps.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple practicalmachine for quickly perforating the casing, and comprises an apparatusby which a series of holes may be rolled in a casing instead of havingto punch each hole separately and which separate punching necessitatesthe intermittent movifiig and stopping of the machine for each Theinvention consists of the parts and the construction and combination ofparts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation insection of my perforator. Fig. 2 is a corresponding view of same atright angles to the view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line X X ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line Y Y of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a modifiedform of my invention shown in partial section.

A represents a casing of an oil, Artesian, or other well, which casingit is desired to perforate at some one or more points in its length forthe purpose of allowing the liquid percolating in the surrounding soilto enter the casing.

2 is a tube reaching to any suitable depth in the casing and carrying atits lower end a section 3, to which is secured a spring device, such asshown in my prior patent, No. 708,763,dated September 9, 1902,forholding the perforating-tool whichis carried by section 3 at anydesired point in the casing. This holding device comprises a series ofconvex springs 4, secured at each end to collars 5, one of which collarsis locked to section 3, while the other is loosely slidable thereon topermit of the expansion or contraction of the springs 4. Reciprocalwithin the tube 2 and projecting therebelow is a rod 6, which carries apin or pins 7, adapted to slide in vertical slots 8 in the section 3 orto be turned sidewise into lateral prolongations 9 of the vertical slots8 when it is desired to hang up the rod 6. Detachably connected with thelower end of the section or sleeve 3 is a head carrying the perforatingmechanism, which is actuated on occasion by means of the prolongation 11of rod 6. This head is here shown as comprising a centrally-perforatedblock 10, having secured to the opposite sides two parallel bars orplates 12, with their lower ends suitably spaced and maintained rigid bymeans of a brace-block 13.

The perforating star-wheel 14 operates in .the space or slot formedbetween the plates 12. Normally this star-wheel is confined entirelywithin the space between the plates,

but is adapted to be projected outwardly beyond the limit of the plates12 when it is desired to puncture the casing. This wheel orperforating-tool is formed with puncturingpoints of any desired shapeand is mounted on an axle whose ends are movable in incline slots 15 inthe plates. Attached to the wheelshaft on each side of the wheel andhaving by reason of the slots 16 a limited movement independent of thewheel are the links 17, whichconnect to respective levers 18, fulcrumedintermediate of their ends on the plates 12. Other links 19 connect theopposite ends of the levers 18 with the end of the lever 20, fulcrumedat 21 above the wheel. The lever 20 is disposed in the path of themandrel portion 11 of the operating-rod 6, so that when the mandrel isdropped the several connections 20, 19, 18, and 17 operate togglefashion to carry the axle of the wheel 14 upward and outward in theslots 15, and so project the wheel into operative position relative tothe casing.

Obviously the parts 10, 12, and 13 could be made in one piece andchanneled or slotted to receive the perforating-tool; but I prefer tomake the head in the form herein shown and described.

In practice the operating-rod is lifted to carry the pins 7 into therests formed in the sleeve 3 by the offset slots 9, thereby lifting themandrel 11 out of operative engagement with the link 20 to allow thetool to be raised or lowered in the casing without the perforator doingany damage. With the operatingrod in this position the apparatus ismoved to any desired point in the casing, and, if desired, the entireweight of the apparatus may be sustained by the frictional contact ofthe springs 3 with the casing. The operatingrod is then lifted to carrythe pins 7 into alinement with the vertical slots 8, and. on releas ingthe red the mandrel 11 is dropped. onto the lever 20, pushing theperforating-wheel upward and outward to cause its points to pierce thecasing. Suitable power is then applied on the tube 2 to reciprocate thedevice in the casing, and as long as the weight of the mandrel andoperating rod are supported on the link 20 the wheel continues to rollholes up and down in the casing.

A rolling perforator of this sort is preferable in some respects to aknife which will slit the casing, since perforating has a less tendencyto weaken the casing than where a long slit is made.

The form of device above described is particularly suitable forperforating pipes of medium size or those ranging from four or live toten or twelve inches. Where it is desired. to perforate pipe of adiameter less than the minimum above mentioned, or of a diameter greaterthan the maximum stated, I prefer to use a modified design of theinvention such as is shown. in Fig. In this case I attach the head 10direct to the rod 2, and in a slot in this head I insert aperforatingwhe,el 14, having its axle operating as before in the inclineslots 15.. Instead, however, of operat ing the wheel from above, as inthe :[irst-described instance, I now work it from below through themedium of the following described mechanism: Links 17 connect the axlewith the cross lever 18, disposed in the path of the verticalreciprocating rod 11, slidable in the portion 13, which is acontinuation of the head 10. Detachably connected with the part 13 is atubular section 3, on which is slidable a collar 5, carrying theconvexed supportingsprings 4:. These springs connect at their lower endto a collar 5,which is loose on the lower end of the rod 11 but whichcollar 5 is movably held thereon by the nut 22. The tubular part 3 hasan annular flange or external collar portion 24, limiting the downwardmovement of the collar 5. It will thus be observed that the rod 11 andthe springs 4: have a limited movement relative to the rest of theapparatus, or, con versely, the rest of the apparatus has a limitedmovement relative to the operating-rod 11" and its spring-hold means l.The tubular portion 3 is slotted at S, similarly as in Fig. 5, and therod 11 carries the pin or pins 7, engageable in suitable offsets in theslots 8 to permit of the movement of the entire ap p aratus up or downin the well without working the perforator. In practice with this form.of device the rod 11 is suitably turned and locked in slots 8 tomaintain the perforator in inoperative position, and the device islowered by the rod 2 to a suitable point in the well. By lifting upslightly on the rod 2 and. turning it the pins 7 are carried into thevertical portion of the slot 8, so that the rod 1]. is supportedentirely independent of the head and rod 2, the frictional contact ofthe springs 4 with the casing being sufficient to hold the rod 11* inposition. By pushing down on the rod 2 the lever 18 is carried down ontothe end. of the rod 11, which in turn pushes the perforatingwheel upwardand outward into the casing. Lifting up on the rod 2 releases the wheeland allows the apparatus to be withdrawn from the well or to be turned.or moved to any other desired position in the well. This latter form ofdevice is preferred on large machines, where the weight 01 the entireapparatus is too great to be carried by the springs. It is alsopreferred in the machines for perforating small pipe, since the spaceoccupied by the springs when they are arranged below the head isconsiderably less than where they are made to surround the sleeve 3, asin Fig. 1. In the last-describer'l construction the mandrel alsoprotects the springs, and there is no danger of shearing the springs oilin case the tool is dropped to the bottom of the well.

The advantage possessed by both forms of construction is that I amenabled to roll a row of holes of any desired length in practically thesame length of time that it formally took to make a single hole whereradial punches were used.

It is possible that various changes and modifications maybe made withoutdeparting from the principle of my invention, and I do not wish. to beunderstood as limiting myself to the specific structure here shown anddescribed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In. apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a perforating-tool mount ed to rotate and having aplurality of radial perforating-points, means for suspending the tool inthe well-casing, means for holding it normally out of operative relationwith the casing and means including toggle-levers for moving it intooperative relation therewith. 2. In apparatus of the characterdescribed, the combination of a head, a perforating starwheel carried bysaid head and normally out of operative relation with the casing andmeans including toggle-levers and a reciprocal rod for actuating thesame to project the star-wheel into operative relation with the casing.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with asuitable support within the well-casing, of a perforating-tool carriedby said support, said perforating-tool mounted to rotate and having aplurality of radially-disposed puncturing-points, means including atoggle-lever mechanism and a reciprocal rod adapted to engage the same,for moving said wheel radially of the casing, and means to reciprocatesaid wheel-support.

I. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a slotted head, a rotary puncturing-tool carried bysaid head and normally retracted out of operative relation with thecasing, means including a toggle-1ever connection and a membercontacting therewith for moving said tool radially of the head and meansto reciprocate the latter.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a slottedhead, starwheel carried thereby, said wheel having a limited movementradially of the head, means including toggle-levers for moving the wheelradially of the head and means for reciprocating the latter.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a head orother suitable support, a puncturing-tool comprising a star- Wheelcarried by said head and having its axle supported in inclined slots inthe head, means including a contact member and a toggle-lever mechanismdisposed in the range of action thereof for reciprocating the wheel insaid slots and means for reciprocating the head.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a head, astar-Wheel having its axle supported in inclined slots in said head,toggle levers connected with said wheel, a rod operable on said leversto actuate the wheel and means to reciprocate the head.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a head, apuncturing staring-rod below said Wheel and adapted to operate saidmechanism having means of support within the well-casing independent ofthe Wheel-support, and means for reciprocating the head to cause the rodto operate the star-Wheel.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

EDWIN R. GRAHAM.

Witnesses A. B. HILL, BEN W. KILBY.

